A/N: Yes I am aware that I am evil and must die for the thought of this chapter. I have taken a bit of criticism for not having a lot of Luke and Lorelai stuff in this story and that I have it all focus on Audrey. Well here you go this chapter is all Luke and Lorelai.

Anyway to my Mary Anne Faithfulls, thank you for reviewing and reading this story. Here you go, without further ado here is...

Chapter 44: Please JustBelieve Me, Luke, Please

It started like any other day. Waking in the early morning light in the arms of her loving husband, wandering into the kitchen for her daily drugging and wishing that the sun would raise later in the day so she could sleep. She waved to her youngest child as she ran out the door to school.

Lorelai Danes was happy with her life. She had a loving husband, two beautiful girls, crazy grandkids and an extended family of town loonies. She owned two successful inns, nothing was standing in her way.

She got dressed that day in a knee length blue dress and matched it with a light gray sweater and her cute boots. Once she was downstairs she decided on the black pea coat and blue scarf. Five minutes later she arrived at the diner for breakfast and a dose of Luke. Kirk and his son Kurt (not at all confusing says Kirk) had her normal table by the door so she had to settle for the counter. She picked up the green coffee cup and held it out to her husband and pouted.

"No," he said, walking past carrying plates of food.

"Please Luke? Please, please, please."

"How many languages can you say 'no' in?" he asked.

"No, no, non, nine," she said counting on her fingers. "I've four for now but I can call Rory and get a few more."

He reluctantly gave in and poured her a cup of coffee.

In a world where most marriages went bely up about four years or less into them, Luke and Lorelai's union had faced the test of time, heartache and loss. Their love and romance was just as deep and meaningful as they day she said with all my heart and he said you bet. They knew each other so well that secrets are next to impossible to keep. Surprise birthday parties and Christmases were a thing of the past.

"So what's on the agenda for today?" he asked.

"I have a meeting with Tobin at the Independance Inn at 11 to discuss the Hunter wedding next week, then a staff meeting at the Dragonfly at noon," Lorelai said, sipping at her coffee. "What about you?"

"I'll be here most of the day, unless you're up to some company for lunch," he replied.

"Lunch at the Dragonfly at 1:30?" she proposed, leaning over the counter for a kiss.

"It's a date," he answered kissing her deeply. "I love you so much."

"I know. I know so much."

Lorelai went back out to her car, her old Jeep that only still ran thanks to Gypsy and mostly because of Luke. Once she arrived at the Independance Inn she checked the mail and then retreated to her office to get the book on the Hunter Wedding for Tobin. She noticed that the light on her answering machine was blinking. Tapping the playback button she listens to the messages. Two were from the garden supply guys and the other was from a certain teacher at Chilton.

"Lorelai, hi. It's Max. Max Medina. Would it be possible to meet with you this afternoon? I would like to discuss Audrey's return to school," Max's voice said. "Please give me a call back at the school. Thank you."

What on earth could Max possibly want to discuss about Audrey?

Lorelai picked up the phone and dailed in the school's number. "Max Medina please." She waited on hold until she heard the familar voice.

"Max Medina, may I help you?" he asked.

"Hello Mr. Medina. This is Lorelai Danes calling you back," she said, making it known that she was indeed Mrs. Luke Danes.

"Lorelai, thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I was wondering if I could meet with you about Audrey's return to Chilton?"

He figured that she would never meet with him alone unless it was about her daughter. It was an airtight plan. He would get her alone, plead his case and hopefully she would come back to him. It was a big hope but he still was very much in love with Lorelai Gilmore. But sadly for Max, she was no longer Lorelai Gilmore. She stopped being Lorelai Gilmore 18 years ago. She was now and forever Lorelai Victoria Danes.

"Well, I'm having lunch with my husband at the Dragonfly Inn at 1:30. You can discuss it with us both then," Lorelai said, digging througha stack of papers.

No! He can't be there. Must think of something. I know I'll just get there eariler. That's it.

"That will be fine," Max said. "I'll see you at 1:30."

As Max said that she heard a loud crash come from the kitchen. "See you then." She hung up the phone and raced into the kitchen. Like mother, like son. Davey was flat on his back with a pile of pots and pans to his left and spilt sugar and nutmeg on his left. Lorelai tried her best not to laugh but it reminded her of years past. Years of picking Sookie up after falls, burns, exploding dishes.

"Davey Belleville, you have got to be more careful," Lorelai scolded. "Our insurance policy is high enoughwith all your mother's accidents."

"Sorry Aunt Lorelai," Davey replied, picking himself up off the floor.

"At least you haven't killed a stove."

Lorelai knocked on the wooden kitchen door as she left, praying for nomore St. James-Belleville accidents. Her meeting with Tobin went by quickly as did the staff meeting at the Dragonfly. After the meeting she hid in her office to catch up on paperwork. She had completely forgotten to call Luke to tell him about lunch with Max. Hopefully Luke would get there early so she could tell him before Max just showed up.

She came out to the lobby and there standing in the living room was Max. She was shocked to see him. She really wasn't prepared to face him without Luke there beside her.

"Max what are you doing here?" she asked. "We weren't supposed to meet until 1:30."

"I guess I'm early. I wanted to see you anyway. Let's talk, we haven't done that in a long time."

Lorelai sat down in one of the chairs and Max sat on the couch. She kept looking towards the door, hoping that Luke would be there soon. Max pulled a sheet of paper out of his pocket and glanced down at it.

"Lorelai," he began. "God what's it been 23-24 years since we last talked. Seems like only yesterday for me. We made that silly agreement to not see each other anymore but I don't want to do that anymore. I need you in my life. I love you Lorelai Gilmore."

"I'm not Lorelai Gilmore anymore, Max. I stopped being Lorelai Gilmore 18 years ago. I am Lorelai Danes now."

"I want another chance. Give us another chance. Let's take Audrey and go far away from Stars Hollow. We'll start a new life together. You, me and Audrey we'll be a happy family. Please love me again."

"No! No, no, no! No Max, no!" Lorelai exclaimed. She stood up and walked for the desk. He stood up and stopped her. "If you'll excuse me I have things to do before my husband gets here for our lunch date."

"You loved me once Lorelai. You just need a reminder."

Max took her hand and pulled her to him, kissing her. She lifted her arm to push him away just as she heard a voice. A very loud, a very angry voice.

"Staff meeting, my ass!"

Lorelai shoved Max away from her and faced a very angry, hurt, upset, confused Luke. He looked from Max to Lorelai and back again. She looked down and saw the bouquet of roses in his hand. She knew the situation did not look good. She knew there was no way she could explain this away. Luke dropped the roses and kicked them aside and stormed away.

"Luke, wait!" she yelled after him. "Max I want you to leave and I never want to see you ever again."

Lorelai ran outside just as Luke drove out the dirt road from the inn. She wanted and could have run after the truck but she knew there was no catching him. She had to let him cool down. She walked defeatedly back into the inn. She went right past the desk and right into her office. She slammed the door and collapsed into her chair. She buried her head in her hands and began to sob.

He must think I've been cheating on him with Max. He has to know I wouldn't do that. I love him more than anyone else in the world. I love Luke. He is my one and only.

She picked herself up off her desk and dried her eyes. She left her office and the inn. She had to find him. She got in her Jeep and began to drive around town. There is only so many places he could go. If he wasn't at the diner he'd be at the house. She drove past the diner and only saw Caesar. She decided to drive home and wait him out there. She pulled into her driveway and saw his truck sitting there. She had no idea if he was there or not.

Lorelai went into the house and heard a crash in the kitchen. A distinct growl of frustration echoed throughout the house. Looking around the living room, Lorelai could tell that he had vented somewhat. Toppled chairs, books thrown around the room and a few noticeable fist sized holes in the walls leading towards the kitchen. She took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. Pots and pans scattered aimlessly on the floor.

"Luke? Luke, honey?" she said softly. "Luke?"

"HOW COULD YOU?" he screamed. "HOW COULD YOU!"

"Luke please," she whispered.

"How long have you been seeing Max behind my back?"

"I haven't been seeing Max behind your back Luke!" she exclaimed, trying to remain calm. "I love you Luke. I would never do anything to hurt you!"

She began to cry the tears that she thought had dried up earlier.

"Then what do you call what I walked in on?"

"A complicated situation that I'm trying to explain to you. Please hear me out!"

"What was he doing there, Lorelai?"

"Please Luke calm down. You're scaring me. I checked my messages at the Independance Inn and there was a message from Max wanting to meet with me about Audrey's return to Chilton. I called him back and told him I was having lunch with you at 1:30 and that he could talk to us both. I was going to call you but then Davey had a slight mishap in the kitchen and it slipped out of my head. Please just believe me Luke, please."

She was crying as she pleaded with him. "Luke, he showed up early, knowng full well that you wouldn't be there yet. He begged me to give him another chance, leave you, take Audrey and run away with him."

"You're not taking MY daughter from me!" Luke roared. "It'll be a cold day in hell if I allow it! You will not get custody of Audrey. She'll stay here with me and you know it!"

"LUKE!" she yelled just as loudly. "I'm not leaving you for Max! Why would you even think that? I love you. You Lucas William Danes."

Luke turned away from his wife. Nothing was sticking in his head. It was all just words. Words with no meaning, like Greek or Latin. Nothing she could say would penetrate. Nothing would stick.

"Get out of my house," he said in a low voice. "Get out before I do or say something I'm going to regret."

"No, Luke. Please don't do this," Lorelai pleaded to his back. "Luke please. Let's sit down and talk about this rationally. We need to. Please. Luke. Please."

Luke looked back at his wife. Her face was stained with tears. Her once bright blue eyes had chaged to a gray with the hurt and sadness she was dealing with. He clutched his hands into fists and raised them to his cheeks and took a step towards her.

"Don't you hit me Lucas Danes!" she screamed, pushinga kitchen chair in front of her. "Don't you do it!"

He saw the fear and terror in her eyes and face. He dropped his hands to his sides and pushed the chair away. He gathered her into his arms and held her close to him. He rubbed her back and began to whisper.

"Lorelai, I promised you years ago that I would never ever raise my hands in anger at you again."

She pushed him away. "Luke you can't do this. You can't from screaming at me to comforting me. I am going to leave. I am going to stay at the inn for a few days."

She left him standing in the kitchen stunned. Lorelai went up to their room and packed a small duffel bag. She came back downstairs. He met her by the stairs.

"What am I supposed to tell Audrey?" he asked.

"Whatever you want, perhaps the truth would be the best route," Lorelai quipped.

"Lorelai don't leave," he begged.

"No Luke. I'm leaving before Isay or do something I'm going to regret."

With that she opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind her. She walked down the steps to her car. She heard the door open and his heavy footfalls on the steps. Luke cut her off and stood in front of her Jeep.

"Lorelai don't go. If you get in that car and drive away, I'm terrified that you won't ever come back," he pleaded.

"No Luke! You wanted me out of YOUR house, so I'm leaving," she said reaching around him. "Let me go."

"I can't let you leave. This can't be our end."

"Luke, you made it our end when you accused me of having an affair with Max. Tell Audrey I'll call her later. Goodbye Luke."

A/N: Ok girls before you kill me I told you before that their realtionship was going to be tested. Don't worry things are going to turn out all right in the end you'll see. Next time on Collide: Audrey enlists the help of her sister and cousin to put her family back together. All the while Luke has his own plan.

Now please no hate mail. But if you must I'll hear it.